In the only vice presidential debate of the 2012 election, Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wisc., and incumbent Democrat Joe Biden faced off Thursday at Centre College in Danville, Ky.
The debate was moderated by ABC News senior foreign affairs correspondent Martha Raddatz. Topics covered both foreign and domestic issues such as abortion, the economy and American involvement in the Middle East.
The protests in Libya that led to the Sept. 11 death of U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens were the first issues discussed, and Ryan jumped on the opportunity to criticize the Obama administration’s foreign policy.
“What we are watching on our TV screens is the unraveling of the Obama foreign policy,” he said.
Ryan criticized the Obama administration for taking two weeks to define the attack as terrorism, saying it shows weakness of America.
Both candidates agreed Iran should not have nuclear weapons, but argued over ending the war in Afghanistan.
“We are leaving in 2014,” Biden said. “Period.”
Ryan, while agreeing with the timeline, said we should not give our enemies insight into our plans.
The candidates also discussed Syria and American involvement overseas, with Ryan saying he will do what is best for the American people in regard to getting involved in the affairs of other nations.
The debate turned domestic with talk of unemployment and healthcare.
Ryan promoted Romney’s five-point economic plan, which focuses on energy independence, improving education and job training, making more products domestically, championing small businesses and ending the recession.
The healthcare debate followed a similar pattern as the presidential debate last week, with argument over spending and the board of advisers created by the Affordable Care Act.
Biden encouraged Americans to use common sense, asking, “Who do you trust on (healthcare)?”
The domestic portion of the debate continued to taxes, with each candidate describing their tax plan. Biden called out the Republican ticket for being vague and not having an actual plan on the issue. Ryan attributed this to their goal of bipartisanship.
“Different than this administration, we actually want to have big bipartisan agreements,” Ryan said. He reminded Americans and Biden that Romney led an 87 percent Democratic Senate in Massachusetts.
Ryan mentioned the 15 percent tax rates in Canada, describing his plan as one of cutting taxes across the board and closing loopholes for high-income individuals.
Defense spending was also brought into question, with Ryan specifying that he does not plan to increase defense spending but would not cut it either.
The debate then turned to a sensitive topic important for many voters — abortion. Both Ryan and Biden are Catholic, a first in U.S. debate history.
Ryan opened his answer with the memory of seeing his daughter’s ultrasound. He said he strongly believes life begins at conception and that the Romney campaign platform includes the banning of abortion, except in cases of rape, incest or if the life of the mother is in danger.
Biden, who also believes life begins at conception, differs in his views of religious liberties.
“I accept my church’s position on abortion,” Biden said. “But I refuse to impose it on equally devout Christians and Muslims and Jews. … I do not believe that we have a right to tell other people that women — they can’t control their body.”
